Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1887-05-18
CHARITABLE Dir. B0WSER.
HIS UNFORTUNATE EXPERIENCE AS BEN
EFACToR AND DISPENSER OF CHARITY.

l don't want the public to get the i'm.
preston that Mr.. Bowser is not good
hearted man. Such an idea would do him
great injustice. He is little queer in some
of his ways, but all right as whole, and
more tender-hearted man never lived.
When we began housekeeping and got our
the library, shut the door and dropped his
voice down to the confidential pitch and
said:
'Alrs. Bowser, let's start out right. Let's
respect the feelings of that poor girl in the
Kitchen"
"Certainly.''
"Shes just as good as we are, and we
mustn't put on any airs over her. She shall
eat at the table with US, and if she has any
time from her work you might learn her
how to sing and play the piano."
81 can't quite agree with you. Mr.. Bow
ser.''
''Oh, you can't! Woman mortal enemy
is woman. Well, Pm going out and have
a little talk with Eliza and tell her what
Pm willing to do"
listened at the kitchen door. Mr.. Bow
ser Is no man to beat about the bush. He
went right at the business in hand by say
ing:
ELIZA, nobility does not consist in rich
es."
She slid away from him toward the sink.
"You are not to blame for being in your
present position, How would you like to
take singing lessons?''
She looked at him with open mouth.
.'And learn to play the piano?'
She opened her mouth still wider.
''And perhaps, learn how to sketch and
paint?''
She seized pan of water in the sink and
whirled on him with:
''You internal cross-eyed old reprobate.
to talk to an innocent girl in that fashion!
Get out of my kitchen or I'll drown you in
minute!''
When we sat down to supper / wondered
why Eliza hadn't put on plate for herself,
and asked Mr.. Bowser when should begin
her piano lessons.
"AIrs. Bowser, have you lost the little
sense you possessed two or three months
ago." he hotly exclaimed, and thought it
best to let the subject drop right there.
A few days after that a boy about eight
years old came to the door to beg, and as
soon as Mr.. Bowser caught sight of him he
observed:
"Cail the little shaver in and let him see
that the milk of human kindness has not
all dried up. Now give him good break
FAST
The cook stuffed him until he could eat
no more, and then Mr.. Bowser brought him
into the sitting-room aud cut his hair,
washed the little ones face with his own
hands, and was going to call the cook in to
wash his feet, when protested:
''Now, Mr.. Bowser, that is going too far.
We don't keep county house here"
''Don't we? wouldn't have your mean
spirit for all the money in America! 1t is
just such people as you who have added to
the woes of poverty and the wickedness of
the world"
''But we can't make such fuss over ev-
cry beggar that comes along.'
Nobody expects you to. You are ex-
pected to stand in the door with a crowbar
and brain every poor unfortunate who stops
to ask for mouthful of food. l shall 90
home with this boy. l want to have talk
with his father, and it may end in my
adopting him."
Mr. Bowser led the boy away, and it
seemed, as l afterwards came to know,
went home with him. When he left the
boys house man was chasing him with
shovel, and woman with hoe-handle was
trying to head him off, and the boy himself
stood in the door and clapped his hands.
When MIR. Bowser came home l asked
what had become of his adopted son, and
he roared at me:
''None of your business! If had your
spirit I'd expect to be struck by lightning!"
When we got our horse we got colored
man to take care of him, and at their first
interview I heard Mr.. Bowser say to him:
sNow, Mr.. johnson, you are not to blame
for either your color or your lack of educa-
ton. You have not had show. Take
that barn and manage it according to your
own judgment. I've got suit of clothes
in the house for you, and there are plenty
of books in the library"
Mr.. johnson took ten books from the Ii
brary the first day of his arrival. On the
second day he disappeared. So did the
books, so did the harness and robes and
lot of TOOLS Mr.. Bowser was furious He
wanted ten detectives on the case all at
once, and as he started to telephone for
them said:
"Perhaps he has retired to a cave with
the ten books to enrich his mind"
''And perhaps amt the biggest idiot in
the State of Michigan for marrying youv'
he shouted back as he ground away at the
crank and lifted the chief of police off his
chair.-DetroH Free Press.